Junior Blues get back on winning track

June 28, 2012|Columbus Telegram, Neb

NORFOLK — The Junior Blues bounced back in a big way.

Coming off a pair of losses Monday at Grand Island Wells Fargo, the Columbus United Federal Credit Union Junior Blues American Legion baseball team got back on track by sweeping Elkhorn Valley Bank (Norfolk) Wednesday on the road. Columbus took the first game 5-0 before rolling to an 11-1 victory in the nightcap.

"Our kids couldn't have done a better job with the physical and mental effort that they had out there," Columbus head coach Tom Keiser said. "It was very refreshing, not only because we came off two difficult losses, but also because we had no physical or mental letdowns."

Pitching was key for Columbus in both games, as Derek Kaslon and Blake Bubak held Norfolk in check at the plate.

In Game 1, Kaslon went the distance and struck out 12 batters while limiting Norfolk to five hits.

Columbus scored two runs each in the third and fourth innings, and plated their final run in the bottom of the sixth.

Nathan Sliva finished 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs, while Parker Smejkal was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Brendan Ritzdorf went 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

Bubak was just as impressive for the Blues in the nightcap, as he also threw a complete game. He gave up just three hits while striking out six.

"The job that Derek and Blake both did was phenomenal," Keiser said. "They attacked the strike zone from the very start and trusted the defense to make plays, which it did. Our defense was outstanding."

Columbus got rolling early, scoring five runs in the top of the first inning and leading 5-1 after three innings. The Blues extended the lead to 9-1 with four runs in the fourth before adding two insurance runs in the sixth.

Smejkal finished 2-for-4 with a double, triple, three RBIs and two runs, and Austin Ewers was 1-for-2 with a double, an RBI and two runs. Tucker Ramaekers went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Brandon Konz was 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Columbus had 12 hits in the second game, giving it 23 for the evening. The offensive production came from throughout the lineup, which is exactly what Keiser was hoping to see.

"It's refreshing to see guys one through nine in the lineup hitting," he said. "It's equally dismal for the other team to know that anyone can hurt you. We've got 12 guys on this team capable of hurting you."

Columbus will look to stay on track in a doubleheader today at Omaha Roncalli.